Blind-Sided

Rating:
Summary: An engrossing, heart-stopping adventure novel
Review: (...)
If readers want an engrossing, heart-stopping adventure novel, loosely based on a real lawsuit yet embellished with fiction, this book is guaranteed to fit the bill.

Jeannette LeFleur has just landed her dream job. Fresh out of school, she gets hired to work on a groundbreaking project, the Living Lens, otherwise known as the Epi Project, which takes donor corneas in eye surgery as surgical implants for improving eye-sight, like a permanent contact lens. She jumps in to the job full tilt, ready to make a difference on the project, for her supervisor.

Unfortunately, one of her first discoveries is poor record keeping for patient records, and billing. She takes her concerns to Dr Byron Rutherford, the lead in the project but he says not to worry and to do whatever she needs to fix the problem. However, the more she looks, the more problems she finds. She discovers there is a lot more to this than bad records and failed grafts.

With the help of her lawyer boyfriend Charles Carter, and her late husband's best friend Dr. Scott Fontenot, she uncovers more then she bargained for. They find serious problems, ranging from money laundering and fraud to "the body Mafia," which is implicated in illegal trafficking of body parts. Now her life is in danger, as are those of her friends, and everyone involved in helping her uncover the extent of the illegalities of the Epi Project. Will she get to the bottom of it and get enough evidence to convict involved parties before she gets killed?

Wow! What a ride this story is! It is an adventure from the first page to the last. The opening prologue sets the tone for what is to follow, immediately giving readers a sense of the risks Jeannette will be taking throughout the story. The storyline progresses gradually at first, slowly leading up to the heart of the plot, then steamrolls through from there. This book takes numerous twists and turns weaving back and forth and doubling back on itself, just like the snakes and lizards living in the Louisiana bayou.

A few different storylines all interrelated, but slightly apart from one another, are seamlessly interwoven to give the overall picture and just how much is at stake for Jeannette, her family and friends. There is also an undercurrent of love stories to be found, which adds another level of richness to the plot. But don't misunderstand, there is love and romance in the story, but this is most definitely not a romance novel, the primary focus being on the mystery.

Having read other works by Ms. Michaels, this reviewer knew what to expect in writing style, but this was a whole new genre at which the author could try her pen. Ms. Michaels does not disappoint in the mystery genre either. Her trademark of rich storylines with strong plots is very evident here. This is just one more reminder of why she is fast becoming a favorite author for this reviewer.

(...)

Rating:
Summary: Blind-Sided
Review: Even though I'm a northerner,I love books set in New Orleans. Blind-Sided takes the reader from the exciting streets of the French Quarter to the spooky backwoods of the Louisiana bayous. The theme of illegal trafficking of body organs, in this case eyes, made it a thrilling read.
This is a well written novel with a great plot and an interesting topic of which I had never heard.

Rating:
Summary: I read it in only 3 days!
Review: This book is set in New Orleans. I always find books with this city as a setting so appealing. I was however worried that is would fit the "sterotype" of cajun accents and the characters sweating etc. I was thrilled to find this was not the case. I found that it flowed so well and made it a very easy read.It had a little bit of everything; suspense, drama, romance, murder and
the description of the characters and places were written so well I had no problem picturing them in my mind. I couldn't wait to see what Jeannette would find out next. Chapter 19 was a little bit more intense then I had expected to find in this book but it potrayed the evil doers perfertly.
Medical thrillers are usually not my cup of tea but I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for a new, exciting novel.

Rating:
Summary: I read it in only 3 days!
Review: Widow Jeanette LaFleur and her young daughter, Brigitte, resided in New Orleans. Jeanette graduated (high in her class) and was qualified as an ophthalmic technologist. She began her dream job as Clinical Coordinator for Dr. Byron Rutherford's Epi Study (A.K.A. Living Lens Project). Upon discovering several problems in record keeping, Jeanette shrugged it off to lack of organization skills from her predecessors. But when she found out several records were either missing or never existed, she went to Dr. Rutherford. He, also, shrugged it off and told Jeanette that he had complete confidence that she could fix the problems. Jeanette dug more and kept finding problems with no answers. As puzzle pieces began to click into place, Jeanette found herself believing the project to be a front for several illegal activities.

With the help of her current boyfriend, lawyer Charles Carter, and her deceased husband's best friend, Dr. Scott Fontenot, Jeanette put together enough evidence for fraud and medical negligence. But when the trio began finding illegal body parts, and not JUST the corneas needed for the project, their lives were at stake!

***** Here is a medical and legal thriller combination that, in my opinion, is right up there with novels written by author John Grisham! I simply can not describe how much I enjoyed this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It is very well written, fast paced, and the characters seem very realistic.

To know that it is based on a similar 1980's lens project, even though this is still labeled as a fictional novel, makes it hit home on an even deeper level. I proudly recommend this book very highly!

Rating:
Summary: Blind-Sided
Review: WOW! This book is all the buzz here in New Orleans. My friends kept telling me I just had to read it...and I'm so glad I did. The detail with which the authors describe a scene really makes you feel as if you are there. Chills and thrills combined with such local favorites as Jazz Fest and Rock 'n Bowl make for an authentic and enjoyable read. Although a work of fiction the fact that Blind-Sided was inspired by real life events in Janet Ferran's life only adds to its mystery and excitement. I highly recommend this book that keeps the reader asking..."What's real and what's not"? Fortunately for the reader,the true story is revealed in the Afterword.